Anthrax spores refers to tiny particles that are released by the bacteria that cause the disease anthrax. These spores can be harmful to living things and can cause serious illness if they enter the body. Full definition
One study, published in 2006, estimated that releasing just 1 kilogram of anthrax spores in Washington, D.C., would be enough to infect between 4000 and 50,000 people. (sciencemag.org)
After prominent newscasters and government officials were mailed anthrax spores in the autumn of 2001, Venkat published a paper later used by the Department of Homeland Security on how to distinguish anthrax from other microbes. (discovermagazine.com)
During the 2001 anthrax attacks, in which someone mailed anthrax spores to politicians and news media offices, 22 people were infected and five died. (scientificamerican.com)